Shift in affordability of residential properties in Dublin's North Inner City, transforming them into shelter for the homeless.
Affordable Housing in Dublin's North Inner City Converts to Emergency Accommodation
For many years, a property on Upper Drumcondra Road, Dublin 9, served as a source of affordable accommodation. Rents for the property ranged between €250 and €300 a month up to 2019, a price that was considered unheard of value, especially in the current housing market.
The property, located near the Royal Canal in Dublin, consisted of two interconnected three-storey-over-basement buildings divided into several affordable flats. One of these flats was home to Green Party councillor Janet Horner.
However, after the buildings were sold and the residents were made to leave, these affordable flats were converted into emergency accommodation. This transformation exemplifies what councillor Horner describes as an “unvirtuous circle” where affordable housing in Dublin's north inner city is increasingly being turned into emergency homeless accommodation.
Councillor Horner has expressed concerns about this trend, noting that it reduces the stock of affordable housing and contributes to ongoing housing pressures. Despite efforts by the housing executive to manage the emergency accommodation and keep complaint levels low, the demand and pressure are immense, with the homelessness crisis far beyond the making of local authorities but placing a heavy burden on them as responders.
The affordable rent for the property was between €250 and €300 a month, a price that was considered reasonable until 2019. However, since then, the rent for similar properties in the area has significantly increased, making the affordable rent for the property on Upper Drumcondra Road, Dublin 9, increasingly difficult to find.
This conversion of affordable housing into emergency accommodation is a recent trend in north Dublin, according to Janet Horner. Despite the challenges, it is crucial to continue efforts to address the housing crisis and ensure that affordable accommodation remains available for those who need it.
The conversion of the affordable housing on Upper Drumcondra Road, Dublin 9, into emergency accommodation has raised concerns about the reduction of affordable housing options in Dublin's north inner city. This trend, as described by Green Party councillor Janet Horner, highlights the increasing difficulty in finding reasonable rental rates for affordable properties, even those that were previously priced between €250 and €300 a month. The escalating rent prices in the area have put additional pressure on the homelessness crisis, making it critical to focus on addressing the housing crisis and ensuring the availability of affordable accommodation for those in need.
